Ronald Torreyes reminds Yankees how valuable he is with two stellar defensive plays, RBI single

The Yankees put plenty of their power on display in Wednesday's 7-2 win over the Rays, but they also got a lift from their little guy.

Ronald Torreyes, all 5-foot-8, 150 pounds of him, proved just how valuable he can be to the Yankees, both on the field and at the plate.

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Torreyes immediately made his impact felt in the first inning, taking a hit and possibly an RBI away from catcher Wilson Ramos when he made a diving, over-the-shoulder grab in shallow right field to end the inning.

Severino had already given up a run in the first and had a runner on second when Torreyes came through, which manager Aaron Boone said helped his pitcher settle down the rest of the game.

"We've been wanting to get him in there, finally had a chance to get him in there today...he turns in two excellent plays," Boone said. "One we thought might have been scoring the second run against Sevy early and it kind of killed the momentum."

Torreyes made a backhanded grab up the middle and a strong throw to put out Rays second baseman Joey Wendle in the second.

Ronald Torreyes made two impressive plays in the field on Wednesday. (Kathy Willens/AP)

The diminutive infielder got the job done at the plate, too.

With Tyler Austin on third base with one out in the fourth, the Rays brought the infield in but Torreyes lined a fastball up and away through the middle for an RBI single.

"Definitely in a situation like that when you have the infielders in what you want to do is hit the ball up the middle and that's what I practice all the time," Torreyes said, via the Yankees team translator.

It may be some time before Torreyes gets another chance in the lineup, but he will be ready when his number is called.

"Although I'm not playing in those games, to me I feel like I'm playing because I'm in every pitch, every at bat," he said.